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Q:
Whats the best way to gauge how big or small a black bear is?
Question by Gator7777. Uploaded on July 28, 2012
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Answers (10)
Is the head round and blocky with the ears small in proportion to the head? Does it have a swaying belly? Seem to have a short muzzle in proportion to the rest of the head? Most likely a mature and big one. Does the head look like and peaked like a fox or collie with ears that look like they belong on a donkey? Is it trim looking and seems to be all legs? Most likely a young one that will run like a deer when the hounds are unleashed. Hope this helps.
If you are hunting over bait you can cut the logs covering the bait pit to 6' lengths. That way you have a rough reference for bears standing over the bait pit.
I am not an experienced bear hunter but that is what the guy who is teaching me does.
Gator,
Look for small ears on their head. A big boar's head will look small on their body. The fat stomach will hang down on the big bears. Look at the bears leg right above the front paw. If the leg flows evenly from the paw up to the chest, it is a good sign it's a mature male.
If you plan to hunt a treestand put out a trail camera. Mark natural things for the height of a bear, like an overhanging limb. The smaller bears will walk under the limb but the brusiers will rub against with their backs.
Most of the huge boar trail cam photos I got were during the darkness of night.
young/small bears have Mickey Mouse ears. They look large and appear to be towards the top of their heads.
Adult bears' ears appear lower (towards the sides) and smaller in relation to their head size.
Not a bear hunter but I have seen many a bear from the VA deer stand.
all above good but they are markers for older more mature bears, the size of known object that is close is the best way. it also depends on where you are from. usually bears from colder areas will seem bigger due to when they are alive the hair often sticks up off the body and colder = more/thicker coat. shot a few late season bears that looked really good only to walk up and look for the bigger bear on the same blood trial;) remember round doesn't always mean big
Wisconsin is where my friend is planning on hunting
That's a great question. Judging a single black bear in the field is tough. If you are hunting over bait, and the bait is in a 55 gallon barrel.Judge how big the bear is in comparison to the barrel. If the barrel is standing upright and the top of the bear's back reaches the second ringon the barrel. This is a nice size adult bear. If the barrel is down on its side, and there is space between the bears belly and barrel. This is also a very good size bear. If the back of the bear is over the side of the oveturned barrel, it's a real nice one.
the size of the bite marks on your arms when it goes for your face!!!!
wellsmi
Ill have to pass your advice on to my friend,lol
I always judge it by the height of how tall the beer is when on all fours!
Post an Answer
Is the head round and blocky with the ears small in proportion to the head? Does it have a swaying belly? Seem to have a short muzzle in proportion to the rest of the head? Most likely a mature and big one. Does the head look like and peaked like a fox or collie with ears that look like they belong on a donkey? Is it trim looking and seems to be all legs? Most likely a young one that will run like a deer when the hounds are unleashed. Hope this helps.
all above good but they are markers for older more mature bears, the size of known object that is close is the best way. it also depends on where you are from. usually bears from colder areas will seem bigger due to when they are alive the hair often sticks up off the body and colder = more/thicker coat. shot a few late season bears that looked really good only to walk up and look for the bigger bear on the same blood trial;) remember round doesn't always mean big
If you are hunting over bait you can cut the logs covering the bait pit to 6' lengths. That way you have a rough reference for bears standing over the bait pit.
I am not an experienced bear hunter but that is what the guy who is teaching me does.
Gator,
Look for small ears on their head. A big boar's head will look small on their body. The fat stomach will hang down on the big bears. Look at the bears leg right above the front paw. If the leg flows evenly from the paw up to the chest, it is a good sign it's a mature male.
If you plan to hunt a treestand put out a trail camera. Mark natural things for the height of a bear, like an overhanging limb. The smaller bears will walk under the limb but the brusiers will rub against with their backs.
Most of the huge boar trail cam photos I got were during the darkness of night.
young/small bears have Mickey Mouse ears. They look large and appear to be towards the top of their heads.
Adult bears' ears appear lower (towards the sides) and smaller in relation to their head size.
Not a bear hunter but I have seen many a bear from the VA deer stand.
Wisconsin is where my friend is planning on hunting
That's a great question. Judging a single black bear in the field is tough. If you are hunting over bait, and the bait is in a 55 gallon barrel.Judge how big the bear is in comparison to the barrel. If the barrel is standing upright and the top of the bear's back reaches the second ringon the barrel. This is a nice size adult bear. If the barrel is down on its side, and there is space between the bears belly and barrel. This is also a very good size bear. If the back of the bear is over the side of the oveturned barrel, it's a real nice one.
the size of the bite marks on your arms when it goes for your face!!!!
wellsmi
Ill have to pass your advice on to my friend,lol
I always judge it by the height of how tall the beer is when on all fours!
Post an Answer